Sensors

Abstract

A sensor system is formed with sensors and a controller which are detachably attached to a network to be connected together. Each sensor stores an interface program for its own and the controller serves to upload these interface programs from the individual sensors and use the uploaded interface programs to access these sensors under optimum conditions.

1. A sensor, which is connectable to a network, said sensor comprising:
 a sensor head;  
 a signal processing part that processes signals inputted from said sensor head;  
 a communication control part that is used by a controller for communicating with said sensor by a general-purpose access;  
 an interface memory area that stores an interface program used by said controller when accessing by an access routine particular to said sensor;  
 a load controller that uploads said interface program to said controller in response to a request from said controller; and  
 a configuration manager that carries out initialization of said signal processing part according to said interface program in response to an initialization request from said controller.  
 
   
   
     2. The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said configuration manager informs said controller when said initialization is completed and thereafter carries out ordinary sensing processes. 
   
   
     3. The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said initialization includes adjustment of parameters including threshold values for judgments. 
   
   
     4. The sensor of  claim 2  wherein said initialization includes adjustment of parameters including threshold values for judgments. 
   
   
     5. The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said initialization includes adjustment of operational data including input sampling periods and output format. 
   
   
     6. The sensor of  claim 2  wherein said initialization includes adjustment of operational data including input sampling periods and output format. 
   
   
     7. The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said interface program is created as an inherited class of interface class and defines a plurality of methods, said methods including Constructor for instantiating as a program and initializing said sensor and Call General Purpose Routine for specifying detailed commands to said sensor and parameters and receiving results of processes. 
   
   
     8. The sensor of  claim 2  wherein said interface program is created as an inherited class of interface class and defines a plurality of methods, said methods including Constructor for instantiating as a program and initializing said sensor and Call General Purpose Routine for specifying detailed commands to said sensor and parameters and receiving results of processes.